What are you using it for? Hunting, field dress, camping, utility?  For the first three I would say Helle of Benchmade.  Amazing quality.... Beautiful knives.
But for utility, just any leatherman, or gerber shit. My work knives get beat to fuck.... so I just get cheep.
As for protection, well get the shiniest..... most deadly looking thing. Everybody knows that in a fight you just flash the steel at the guy to distract him, and then kick the shit out of him.